Earlier this year (MAY) GP referred OH for an "extra" echo as he had swollen ankles and a bit of breathless. (He takes a variety of pills for hypertension, and permanent AF,( warfarin) has had stents for an MI years back and has sleep apnoea.)
The echo when we eventually managed to chase it up took place at a different hospital in the group from where all his routine echos are done. We were told by GP echo had changed quite a bit in 8 months or so. GP then re referred to cardiology after a 7 year gap and that appt took a while to track down too. Cons instructed GP to add 2 diuretics by letter and OH finally seen in clinic yesterday.
Cardiologist who has an excellent reputation but sometimes a little brusque was running an hour late and was charm itself.
he felt the measurements done on echo at other hosp were misleading and they had remeasured here and found the change nowhere near as significant so is arranging more detailed scan and an echo at our usual hospital with as he put it "one of our experienced sonographers"
Incidentally I asked about OH's moderately raised BNP back in May ( just over a 1000 and Cons said this happens with AF and is of no help diagnostically in this situation and no he is not in heart failure.)
We are very happy that he does not require surgery at present but I just wondered if this often happens as I have had months of concern (OH not so much!!) as a result of this echo result.
If you've got this far thank you!!
61 yr old male with valvular heart disease - heart getting weaker
Finding a Cardiologist 
Should we be warned if they see we getting worse 
Atrial Fibrillation. Help.
vasospastic coronary arteries
